L to R: Carol Davis, James Marter and David Krupa
By Nancy Thorner -
(Photos by Mark Weyermuller)
The Illinois Conservative Union held its one-day 4th Annual Conservative Activist Conference on Saturday, August 24, at the Bolingbrook Golf Club, Bolingbrook, IL. It was appropriate that the event was held in the Ronald Reagan Ballroom.
ICU is a coalition of conservative grassroots groups and activists organized as a not-for-profit 501(c)(4), non-partisan, Illinois Bona Fide State Civic Organization, whose vision exists to build and maintain a coalition of conservative organizations and grassroots activists throughout the state of Illinois. Its goal is to have a positive impact on the financial and moral trajectory of the state. Conservative values and principles are time-tested, having a proven historical record of success in improving the lives of people around the globe.Publish
Carol Davis, Chairman, Illinois Conservative Union, was the organizer of the one-day event.
Among the many Sponsors/Exhibitors of the event were Freedom Works; The Heartland Institute; Americans for Prosperity; Illinois Family Institute; Illinois Family Action; Illinois Review; ACT for America; AM560; The Answer; Illinois State Rifle Association; Ed Ford, Taxpayers for Action; Intercessors for America; David Shestokas, Author; Moms for America; Epoch Times; The John Birch Society; Young Living Essential Oils; and Mark Weyermuller. Ample time was given for attendee to meet with one another and to visit the exhibitors.
Following the opening prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and the singing of the National Anthem by Raquel Melanie, there was a brief welcome from the mayor of Bolingbrook, Roger Claar, after which event organizer Carol Davis presented a Conference Overview.
After explaining how we are involved in a gorilla war which requires thinking "out of the box," Ms. David told attendees to check their registration bags for two pads of sticky notes containing these messages: "Are you tired of hot air & high taxes from Springfield? and "Are you tired of being "hosed" when you fill up?" Attendees were instructed to put a "hot air" sticker on every hand drier when washing hands in a public washroom and to place the "hosed" sticker on gas tanks when filling up. In words of encouragement to attendees, Ms. Davis spoke of "wrenches" now in the Madigan machine, further stating that it doesn't take a majority to win and to set a fire in Illinois, so "Let's Roll!"
Two morning tracks for attendees to attend
Prior to choosing one of two morning tracks - Track One for candidates, potential candidates, and everyone who helps candidates and campaigns and Track Two for grassroots activists and regular folks who want to know how they can help save our state — Republican State Rep. Brad Halbrook, 102nd House District, spoke about "The State of the State." His message was a rather grim one. As Halbrook proclaimed: "We need a picture of a dumpster fire to describe Illinois." Halbrook then proceeded to speak about the spring bills that were passed in the General Assembly, among them the minimum wage bill; sports wagering; legalization of marijuana; Capital bill to raise taxes; and abortion up until when a baby is born.
A petition is being made ready by Halbrook to circulate shortly to make Chicago a separate state from the rest of Illinois through Resolution HR101, in accordance with Article 4, Section 3 of Illinois' Constitution. As Halbrook said: "Chicago politicians enact laws that hurt more rural areas of the state." He and others have pointed to years of bad budgeting practices, years of tax increases, higher minimum wage laws, increased abortion rights and the state’s $200 billion-plus state employee retirement debt as major concerns. Halbrook is leading the movement in pushing for HR101.
I attended Track 2 as one who wanted to supercharge her activism. The morning passed by very quickly with eight speakers following one another, all with an excellent messages or stories to tell. Each speaker deserved to have his/her message presented in entirety, but because of limited space only highlights from each speaker could be included.
Frank Napolitano presented his Precinct Committee Project. From DuPage County, Frank spoke of DuPage County having 1,000 precincts, with almost half not having precinct committeeman positions filled. Frank rejects the big tent idea for the Republican Party, which implies watering down the Republican Party. Said Frank."We must put forth our own ideas and principles or the other side will put out what we stand for."
Emily Stack from Freedom Works (freedomworks.org) spoke about the growing influence of Twitter and Facebook. Activism also takes the form of Letters to Editor, calling representatives, making calls to voters, displaying yard signs, canvassing door-to-door, going to meetings, and doing witness slips for proposed legislation on-line. See here how to file a witness slip. Growing the base is extremely important, as is energizing other people to help carry your message.
Debbie Kraulidis represented Moms for America (momsforamerica.us). As Debbie explained, moms must mobilize to save our country, especially given the socialist ideology being taught to our children. The voice of moms is powerful; everything is a mom's issue, she said. Debbie is working on a campaign to organize the voices of moms. As is often said: "The hand that rocks the cradle is the hand that rules the world." See here the origin of the phrase.
Tom Kukulaski of Intercessors for America offered a variety of free resources to help those who are praying to pray more effectively and with insight for their government leaders and our president. Use this link to send prayers to a specific leader and the president. A 30-day prayer guide is available. There is also a way to sign up for issues to pray about. Kukulaski cited this scripture verse from Acts: "They lifted their voices with one accord and the place they were at was shaken."
Frank Lasee, recently appointed CEO and president of The Heartland Institute (heartland.org), is a former Wisconsin state legislator. He spoke about its battle with the carbon CO2 tax."We exhale CO2, and it's good for plants," he said. Lasee spoke of a period from 900-1300 when Greenland was much warmer than it is today, a time when the Vikings could grow grain. The battle over the carbon CO2 tax is just a way for the "greenies" to get to socialism and communism as they advance the hoax of global warming, he said. If something is for freedom Heartland it for it; if something is against freedom, Heartland is against it. The price of freedom is vigilance and push back.
Peter Breen is the leader of the remapping effort as the only way to fix the corrupt Chicago machine. Check votebreen.com. Proposed wording in HJRCA 46 would amend the Legislative Article of the Illinois Constitution, he told the audience. The Illinois Constitution was last amended 40 years ago. As Breen said: “Our legislative districts should keep towns and counties together and be as compact as possible. Gerrymandered maps are wrong because they allow politicians to unnaturally divide communities in favor of partisan interests."
Petitions are just about ready to go out for distribution. Said Breen, “if everyone in the room got 10 signatures, there would be enough for the Fair Map measure to be put on the ballot.”
Carol Davis moderated a panel discussion that featured James Marter and David Krupa before lunch. Even though both lost their respective races, each had interesting campaign tales to tell from their time in the trenches.
David Shestokas, author and lawyer, spoke about his book, “Creating the Declaration of Independence,” about which I plan to write a separate article for Illinois Review.
Afternoon session, 2020 candidates
After lunch, attendees heard from a surprising number of declared 2020 candidates. Each of the 13 candidates gave a short presentation about his/her candidacy. Bonnie Quirke, Director of Lake County Right to Life was the moderator. Attendees were asked to consider the candidates:
- CD 6 Jeanne Ives – [email protected]
- CD 1 Philanise White – [email protected]
- HD 37 Tim Ozinga – [email protected]
- S 43 Ben Bierly – [email protected]
- CD 2 Theresa Raborn – [email protected]
- S 25 Jeanette Ward – [email protected]
- HD 51 Chris Box – [email protected]
- S 55 Darren Bailey – darren@baileyforillinois,.com
- HD109 Cory Musgrave – [email protected]
- CD 14 James Marter – [email protected]
- HD 38 Max Solomon – [email protected]
- Recorder of Deeds, DuPage, Babette Holder – [email protected]
- U.S. Senate – Mark Curran
Afternoon session, Presenters
The afternoon session continued with a discussion by Steve Rauschenberger, President, Technology and Manufacturing Association, about the movement to replace Illinois' Flat Income Tax with a Graduated Income Tax. The question will be the ballot in November 2020. If it passes, it will be devastating to Illinois businesses and families and would take away the last of Illinois' protections. As Rauschenberger stated: "Nothing adds more wealth to society and the standard of living than manufacturing." In Illinois, manufacturing ranks as #2 in importance behind agriculture. Currently Illinois' individual Income tax rate is a flat 4.95% for everyone, regardless of how much money a person makes.
Rauschenberger traced Illinois' severe financial problems back to 2003 – 2004, when Blagojevich was governor. He said often heard are the following comments directed to appease the public:
- That we don't have enough revenue, but Illinois has plenty of revenue.
- That tax increases will solve Illinois' problems, but they won't.
- Just trust us!
As Rauschenberger said: "It's not fair to take away the single tax rate that is in Illinois' Constitution."
Rounding out the afternoon were three speakers: Victor Dula, Grassroots Engagement Director, AFP Foundation, spoke about “Fighting the Progressive Tax Ballot Initiative”; Carol Davis addressed "The Trifecta of Election Fraud"; and the ICU Election Integrity Team presented a timely update.
Victor Dula cited the following two goals of American for Prosperity Illinos, a non-partisan organization: 1) Getting rid of the import-Export Bank, which represents crony capitalism and 2) Killing the state's progressive income tax proposal in 2020.
Carol Davis, admitted we are already in full election mode here in Illinois, further offering this quote by Joseph Stalin as a warning to attendees: "Those who count the vote decide everything." Ms. Davis then enumerated three common ways in which voter fraud was carried out in 2016:
- Pollution of voter polls. The 1993 Voter Act offering motor registration increased pollution of rolls, while Section 8 is not being enforced to clean the voter rolls.
- Voting by mail and on the Internet.
- Ballot harvesting, which played heavily in Republicans being defeated in Orange County, CA.
C.L. Bryant, a Senior Fellow at Freedom Works in Washington, D.C. and a Baptist minister, gave a fiery and powerful message, sending all attendees on their way ready to fight the good fight here in IL. Like David Shestokas' presentation of his book, "Creating the Declaration of Independence," C.L. Bryant's closing message will be set forth in a separate article for Illinois Review.
